04/07/2024
MPL - League Match 5
Rangers XI vs CUCC Kings
When: Sunday 30th June, 2024 at 1:15 PM
Venue: Cranbourne West Oval
Toss: Rangers XI won the Toss and Opted to Bat
Batting:
This time Karthik himself stepped up to open with Pawan. Pawan started off with Rampage again and scored 13 runs in 1 over. Good partnership given from Karthik from the other end by rotating the strike. At the end of 4 over powerplay they were 40/1 at 10 R.P.O. Unfortunately they lost two quick wickets Pawan and Ambarish in quick successions. Thats when Hiten the last time champion came to the crease and both Karthik and Hiten kept the score ticking with very good 56 run partnership in the middle overs. After 12 overs Rangers were 98/2.
Rangers took the second powerplay of 2 overs, but thats when the collapse started after the loss of Hiten's and Karthik's wicket. Wickets just kept on tumbling with Rangers scoring just 128/9 in 20 overs.
Bowling:
Defending 128 is always tough in T20 format and with CUCC winning 3 out of 4 matches were always favorites in the game. Karthik started off the bowling attack with Akash and Hiten and both were extremely consistent and attacking. Akash took a wicket. Karthik, fielding at point displayed an extra ordinary effort to get the other batsman run out direct hit which pushed CUCC on the backfoot. After 4 over powerplay CUCC were just 23/2.
Its now the time for spin attack Arul and Adi. There was a partnership slowly building but Adi broke that in his first over. Arul on the other hand was outstanding as he was in the last match, and took a 5 fer. After 10 overs CUCC were 58/7 with requiring 71 runs in next 10 overs. Somehow Arul gave some runs in his last over followed by another expensive over from Karthik. It was tense moment as there was another partnership building in between. Thats when Karthik went to Hiten and Akash again. They were so amazing giving just 8 runs in 3 overs and yet again Akash took one more wicket of a set batsman. CUCC were 106/9. 23 runs required now and just one wicket in hand. There were lot of doubts going on in Karthik's mind whether to bowl Preet, Manbir or he himself take a chance. Finally he backed himself with the support of his Team and bowled a slow medium delivery straight to the wicket and its clean BOWLED. Thats It.
RANGERS WON THE MATCH BY 22 RUNS.
There are very bleak chances of Rangers to get into Top 16 but still they are ready to fight till the end.
Best Performances:
Batting:
Karthik: 40(40)
Hiten: 28(22)
Pawan: 22(12)
Bowling:
Arul: 4 Overs 32/5
Akash 4 Overs 14/2
Adi 4 Overs 17/1